Composition of matter for electric conductors



106. COMPOSlTlONS,

UNITED STATES Cross Reference DUNCAN MACFARLAN, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 526,721, dated October2, 1894.

* Application filed May 16,1894- seen No. 511,477. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUNCAN MAOFARLAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Conduct-ing and Resisting Compound Structures for Electric Currents,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to the manufacture of conducting and resistingcompound structures for the control of electric currents.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to provide a compoundconducting and resisting structure for regulating or controllingelectric currents; second, to provide a mineral matter having combinedin a compound state therewith substances becoming part thereof and inits inclusion in a circuit adapted to control the same; third, toprovide a compound structure, which in a circuit is adapted to regulateamperage of a lamp or lamps included therein as well as control voltageof the current by permitting lessening at will of the same; fourth, toprovide a compounded structure, in which in a circuit division of thecurrent by suitable means is permitted for diflerent purposes with thevoltage differentiated with respect to the current from the source ofelectric energy; fifth, to provide a compounded structure adapted tofurnish such resistance to an electric current as requirements demand;sixth, to provide a compounded structure which included in a circuitwill control with certainty the resistance ofiered thereby to a currentof high voltage and of the same to be graduated so as tobecomepractically imperceptible and of being increased at will tomaximum limits of energy of the circuit; seventh, to provide a compoundconducting and resisting structure which in a circuit is adapted toproduce a weak current therethrough by its odor of resistance to thehigh voltage of said current and to permit of the absolute controlthereof within the limits of maximum voltage; eighth, to provide acompounded mineral structure of differential conductivity and resistancefor controlling electric currents; ninth, to provide a compoundedmineral structure in the form of threads, cylinders, blocks, bars orother shapes or configurations for inclusion in a circuit and adapted tocontrol the current and resistance ofiered thereto; and tenth, toprovide a compounded mineral structure of low conductivity anddifferential resistance for the regulation of voltage and amperagewithin maximum limits of the current from a source of electric energy.

My invention stated in general terms, comprises a compounded conductingand resisting structure for electric currents as hereinafter describedand claimed.

In order that my invention may be understood by those skilled inelectric science, to which the same is applicable, I will now proceed todescribe the structure and some of Examiner the methods by which myinvention may be carried into efiect. I

I have practically demonstrated that mineral matter, such as asbestos,mineral wool I or the like, known hon-conductors of Heat and unaffectedby water, have certain inherent resisting properties, when included inan electric circuit. \Vhen either matter has combined with it certainother substances, conductivity is insured in the compound in a structureform in addition to its marked inherent resisting properties. If acertain percentage of asbestos or mineral wool, as filameutous strands,powder or in other somewhat similar form, 1s com med with g raphite,

these materials establish with the asbestos or mineral wool a compoundwhich in the path of electric energy, will not only become a conductorfor such current, but will offer resistance thereto in inverse ratio tothe current of the circuit to absolutely control the same. For example,with a voltage of one thousand or greater,or, in fact, any voltage,it ispossible, as practice has demonstrated, to reduce such voltage to thefractional part of one volt and to increase the same at pleasure fromthat point of lowest potential to the maximum power or potential of thecircuit with perfect safety; and moreover, that while said compoundedstructure will be heated by such current, it is absolutelyindestructible.

The amount of asbestos or mineral wool employed with the othermaterials, it should be borne in mind, must be in a certain ratio to theresistance required and the conductivity demanded for the inclusion ofthe ourrent therethrough or about the structure for e. COMPOSITIONS,COATING 0R PLAS Cross Reference the intended purpose, the resistance ofthe structure decreasing as the poles of the circuit are drawn towardeach other and in the path of the compounded structure included in suchcircuit. A goodworking formula with a voltage of fifty-four controllinga thirty-two candle ower lamp, is about thirty parts of asbestos@mineral yyggl to forty parts of 'ra hits and twenty-five parts of oneof many combinations of materials which may be employed for the carryingof my invention into efifect. The sugar, or dextrine, molasses, ums,cemcuts or other somewhat analogous material's Eh'titute a binder forsuch mixture or compounded mineral or other substances for aiding in thecementing of the same together. Preference, however, is given to the useof sugar, as it crystallizes under the influence of heat, and aspractice has demonstrated, the structure after proper admixture ofthesame in a mortar or other suitable appliance is rigid or solid. Thisstructure may be in the form of threads, blocks, cylinders, bars orother shapes or configurations and to which ve parts of su ar water,such being or around which one end of a wire from a source of electricenergy is attached and the other end to another part of such acompounded structure, to establish the circuit therethrough or about thesame and without burning up in the passage of the current therethroughor over the surface thereof.

In the practice of my invention with the use of the materialshereinbefore stated most excellent results have been obtained.Furthermore good results have been obtained by the combining of thematerials specified hereunder and in about the proportion of eachmaterial entering into the several combinations to be mentioned.

Mineral wool ten per cent. black lead, twenty per cent.; chloride ofaluminium ten per cent.; kaolin, orty per cent.; water twenty per cent.

Asbestos or mineral wool, twenty-five per cent.; graphite, twenty-fiveper cent.; silver, twenty per cent. gum or sugar, five per cent. water,twenty-five per cent.

Asbestos, thirty per cent.; graphite, twenty percentT German silver,twenty per cent.; gum or sugar, five per cent.; water, twenty- .fi veper cent.

Asbestos or mineral wool, twenty-five per cent.; silicate of soda twentyper cent.; wa: ter, twenty-five per cent. graphite, thirty per cent.

Asbestos or mineral wool, forty per cent.; water, twenty-five per cent.graphite, twenty per cent.; rubber and utta. ,e'rcha, fifteen per cent.

Asbestos, twenty-five per cent. try-five per cent. graphit e, cement,twenty perchti Ks Bestos forty per cent. ;bl ack lead,

per cent.; sugapfive five per cen water, twenthirty per cent.;

Chloride of aluminium, twenty per cent.; blaclileaditemper cent.; k a oli n, twenty per cent; Water, twenty-five per cent.; powderedasbestbsfftwenty-five per cent. V @hloride of aluminium, twlenty peircent.;

ra hite twenty per cent.; 'ao ll], en per on water, ten per cent;asbestos, twenty per cent.; worm, ten per cent.; cement, ten per cent. 7

These materials being employed with the base asbestos or mineral wooleither of which of itself has the inherent property of offeringresistance to an electric curren t, and either of said materials are tobe used in proportion the resistance bears to the conductivity required.In a word, practice has demonstrated from numerous experimentsconducted, with the different materials in a combined state ashereiubefore mentioned, among many others, for example, asbestosorfirlnineral tzgol withiron ironore Brass, brass ings oro ermetallic'conducting matter or materials, that electric motive force of acurrent is susceptible of being divided by the inclusion of such acompounded structure in the circuit of a source of energy to reduce thepotential of current thereof from an abnormally high one instantly topractically no current at all and to be able to graduate the currentthrough such a resisting structure by means of switches or similarappliances. In a word, with a dynamic voltage of two thousand in contactwith such resisting structure there can be derived therefrom by themanipulation of the switch or other appliance a current of one volt or afraction thereof, and such current can be increased therefrom to themaximum voltage of the dynamic or other source of energy. Moreover, itmay be here remarked that this can be accomplished without'burning outthe structure in the drawing of the current with its oitered resistance.

My invention is adapted among its many uses for faradic or galvanicapplications, cautery and other medical purposes with most excellentresults. Moreover, suchacompounded structure in its different shapes orforms is employed under the aforesaid conditions in the absence of wiresor conductors, except those used as collectors or feeders to thestructure from the dynamic or other source of energy.

Practice has demonstrated that the compounded structure of my inventionin the form of a thread, cord or the like of a dimension of one-eighthto one inch in diameter, included in a circuit of one thousand volts issusceptible of ofiering such a resistance thereto as to instantly reducethe current for different uses to a fractional part of a volt and so asto be able to increase the current therefrom with great regularity tothe maximum capacity of the circuit with the structure therein withabsolute safety and without shock to those handling the same.

It may be here remarked that while certain materials have been mentionedcombined in Examiner certain proportions one with respect to the otherand respectively having inherent-properties of conductivity inapplication to electric energy and of oiferingresistance thereto, othersomewhat analogous materials may-be employed with goodresults inconnection with asbestos or mineral wool in the one instance,

' in order to insure the proper resisting action and of graphite in theother in order toinsure a greater or less degree of conductivity in -thecompounded structure, these materials being used in varying proportionsand depending upon the respective degrees of conductivity and resistingproperties to be ob-' tained for the diiferent uses .to. which such'acompounded structure is to be applied in the 3 ditferent branches of thearts allied toelectrical science and mechanics as a means of propulsionthereof. a

It may be here remarked that in the com-"- -position of a structure suchas hereinbefore described, the asbestos or mineral wool forms the bodyor base of the compound as well as furnishing a resistiugproperty in thestructure' and the other materials hereinbefore T specified in variableproportions are of differ- A en tdegrees of conductivity under certaincondit'ion's. The sugar, dextrine, molasses, gums,

clays, cement and the like, employed in the composition of the structureconstitute the 0 binder, as aforesaid, therefor, so that after baking ordrying under'the required degree of heat, pressure or otherwise, thestructure will assume its required shape or form for 2. A bakedconducting and resisting compound structure, composed of filamentousstrandsrof asbestos, graphite and a binder, 5

/ substantially as described.

, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set I my'signature in thepresence of two subscrib-. r ing witnesses.

1 DUNCAN MAOFARLAN.

W;itnesses: -THOMAS M. SMITH,

RICHARDC. MnXWELL.

